13 Products That Save You Money

The cost of buying everyday household items and groceries has increased.
Consumers are still feeling the effects of the recession and are looking for ways to reduce costs to make their dollar stretch longer. Two ways to make your dollar stretch farther is by using less and by buying products that save you money. Here are 13 products that can help you save money.

1. Use What You Have. Use products you already have in your home such as lemon juice to fight bacteria and baking soda to clean and deodorize. You can also use white vinegar to cut grease, eliminate odors, stains and remove mildew. Use borax to clean and disinfect and to clean walls and floors. Cornstarch can be used to clean windows, polish furniture and shampoo carpet.
2. Fresh Produce. Buy fresh produce from farmer’s markets or local farmers to save money.
3. Energy Efficient. Buy energy efficient products and appliances such as: florescent light bulbs, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, blender, toaster, microwave, hot water heater, furnace, computer, printer, fax machine, scanner or freezer. Look for the Energy Star symbol which indicates a product is energy efficient. You also get a tax credit when you purchase certain energy efficient appliances.
4. Laundry Detergent. Use the recommended amount and adjust as needed. Avoid using more than the recommended amount because this causes more soap buildup on your clothes and may clog up your washing machine. You may also end up having to rinse your clothes twice to remove the excess soap.
5. Generic. Buy generic brands for items such as: paper products, sugar, flour, butter, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and toiletries. Do research to verify which generic brands are the best. Compare ingredients to brand name versions to find the best product.
6. Drying Clothes. Purchase a clothes line or drying rack to dry clothes. When using a clothes dryer dry clothes slightly and then hang on a clothes line or drying rack.
7. Cooking. Make meals for one week, two weeks or a month at a time to reduce preparation time. Cook main dishes and freeze and prepare side dishes only. You can also prepare sides dishes and freeze them.
8. Dishwasher Detergent. Use the recommended amount and adjust as needed. Avoid using more than the recommended amount because this causes more soap buildup on your dishes and may clog up your dishwasher. You may also end up having to rinse your dishes twice to remove the excess soap.
9. Freezer. Buy a freezer to store frozen items and stock up on sale items.
10. Dryer Sheets. You can use dry sheets more than once or cut them in half to save money.
11. Deodorant. Follow the directions on the product to test it out. If you find that you need to use more do so. If you sweat a lot buy a deodorant made specifically for those who sweat more than normal.
12. Toothpaste. Based on most dentists’ recommendations you only need to use the size of a pea to brush your teeth. Don’t cover your toothbrush with toothpaste. If you need to use more repeat the process.
13. Other. Use the Fridge Smart System from Tupperware to make produce last longer. Use the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer to seal food which keeps food fresher longer than plastic wrap, foil or zipper bags.